Foundation Focus

Goertz scholarship fully endowed

Foundation flourishes at Annual Session

By Kathy McCarthyExecutive director, TAFP Foundation

The TAFP Foundation had a strong presence at the recent TAFP Annual Session and Scientific Assembly in Dallas. The Foundation Board of Trustees served breakfast to the attendees in the exhibit hall on Friday, July 29, and held a special reception to honor AAFP leader Roland Goertz, M.D., M.B.A. At the Business and Awards Lunch on Saturday, July 30, the Foundation presented medical student scholarships, honored cumulative donors, and named the 2011 Philanthropist of the Year, Bruce Echols, M.D.

Echols is a longtime contributor to the TAFP Foundation and champion of the scholarship fund set up to honor his former UT Southwestern colleague, the late Cassie Murphy-Cullen, Ph.D. “When I think of philanthropists I think of someone being wealthy, and that really doesn’t describe me,” he told the audience. “But I can say that I feel very rich in friends and family and colleagues. One the greatest riches I’ve had in my life was getting to work with and getting to become friends with Dr. Cassie Murphy-Cullen.”

“Cassie spent almost her entire career working with family practice residents, and she served several residency programs as director of behavioral medicine and research. She had too many accomplishments to list here, but one of her greatest contributions and successes was in mentoring research.”

He recognized the Cullen family, who attended on Cassie’s behalf. The scholarship will provide funding to one resident each year to attend a national conference to present his or her research; the first award will be presented in 2012.

Colleagues and friends from across the state gathered to toast Dr. Goertz and thank him for his years of service on the state and national levels during the Friday night reception in his honor. He concluded his term as AAFP president at the AAFP Congress of Delegates in September and will serve a one-year term as AAFP board chair.

Through sponsorship of the event, donations from individuals, and proceeds from a silent auction, the Foundation raised over $32,000 for the Roland A. Goertz, M.D. Scholarship. It will be used to send student leaders to the AAFP’s National Conference in Kansas City.

Platinum-level sponsors included TAFP, the McLennan County Medical Society, Pfizer, Inc., and the Travis County Chapter of TAFP. Silver-level sponsors were Endo Pharmaceuticals, Providence Health Network, the Texas Medical Association, and Texas Medical Liability Trust. The Texas Association of Community Health Centers donated at the Bronze level. Thank you to all for your generosity.

And thank you to all who supported the Foundation this year. Your generosity makes the good works of the Foundation possible.

Congratulations to the future family physicians who were awarded TAFP Foundation scholarships.